Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkeys!

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More from our 2009 Safari!

The Zanzibar red colobus monkey (Procolobus kirkii) is endemic to the southern end of the main island of the Zamzibar archipelago, Unguja. The monkeys like to eat the unripened fruit from the trees in the forest and, of course, from the farmers’ trees too. This propensity for fruit put them in direct conflict with local farmers that used to kill them as pests. With the establishment of the Jozani Forest preserve, the government is able to pay farmers to help preserve the monkeys. The monkeys are no longer seen as pests but as vital tourist attractors. On the ground, the monkeys like to eat charcoal to help their digestive system. They are quite human friendly!